Our Delaware Block Cleanup & Garden Made the News!

“Cleaning Up in North Central” Published Feb 1, 2019 in the San Mateo Daily Journal by Jon Mays, Editor in Chief

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Bertha Sanchez would be proud. The Home Association of North Central San Mateo just held another neighborhood cleanup event — this time it was concentrated on the Delaware Street/First Avenue area and included the planting of a community garden.

That garden is in a notorious spot for dumping on the eastern side of the road by the San Mateo Creek. The idea of planting a garden is that people might think twice about dropping litter on flowers. Another effort was getting two garbage cans installed on First Avenue since many traveling from downtown usually have food or drink items in their hand they no longer want and previously had no place to put them. The cans will surely help.

The cleanup effort is the second in the course of a year and another one is planned in the coming months. The idea, according to Amourence Lee, past president of HANCSM, is to galvanize the neighborhood against trash. Not only will it get the neighborhood cleaner, but it will allow neighbors to get to know each other. And the more they know each other, the stronger the community will be.

That’s the thinking at least. While HANCSM has been around for decades, it was largely carried by Bertha Sanchez for a number of years. Sanchez was a dynamo and was the epitome of leading by example. After her death in 2016, new leadership emerged and the association is back thriving. Sanchez would be most pleased to see the effort, especially the clean streets.

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Speaking of Sanchez, word is that the new garden in front of the Cal Water site on Delaware Street has been named after her. There is a plaque with a dedication to Sanchez at the spot, but there might be a larger announcement during the April cleanup. In the meantime, be sure to check out the garden and the interesting art piece of a water drop coming out of a tap. You can also get a look-see of the whole facility yourself during an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony set for 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27. The new Bayshore District Customer and Operations Center is at 241 N. Delaware St. Email infoBAY@calwater.com for more information.

Credit: Jon Mays, San Mateo Daily Journal, “Cleaning Up in North Central”